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Bruce Lee was heavily influenced by the Chinese philosophy of Taoism (Dao・ism). He used it to guide important decisions in his life and it can be found in his martial arts, movies, and writings.
Part 1: Introduction
What is Taoism?
Taoism is an ancient Chinese philosophy based on the book the Tao Te Ching (Way and Virtue) that was supposedly written by Lao Tzu some 2,500 years ago (Taoism, Introduction).
“The Way that can be walked is not the eternal Way.
The name that can be named is not the eternal name.” (Taoism, Chapter 1).
The Way
Taoism teaches that all things come from the eternal “Way” which can’t be expressed in words. It has always been in existence. Bruce Lee said that martial arts is “a means to advance in the study of the Way.” (Jeet Kune Do, page 341). A person can get insight into the Tao by observing small things in nature or detaching ourselves from the world through meditation. Lee said, “In order to achieve this peace of mind, the teaching of detachment of Taoism and Zen proved to be valuable” (Warrior, page 130). “Meditation is a freeing of the mind from all motives.” (Jeet Kune Do, page 357).
“So it is called invisible.
Listen, it cannot be heard,
So it is called soundless.
Touch, it cannot be caught,
So it is called elusive.” (Taoism, Chapter 14).
Ying/Yang
Taoism teaches Ying and Yang which some people interpret as opposites: female v. male, soft v. hard, and light v. dark. However they are better described as complementary because they can’t exist without each other. There is no beauty without ugliness, no good without bad, and no cold without hot. Bruce Lee was more Yang with his fiery personality and temper. His martial arts teacher Yip (Ip) Man encouraged him to reflect more on why he didn’t use more soft (Ying) techniques.
“When everyone in the world sees beauty, Then ugly exists. When everyone sees good, Then bad exists. Therefore: What is and what is not create each other. Difficult and easy complement each other. Tall and short shape each other. High and low rest on each other.” (Taoism, Chapter 2).
Wu-Wei
Taoism teaches the concept of Wu-Wei which is taking no action until one has truly reflected on the proper choice. Only then should a person take action and that action should be as minimal as possible to avoid interfering with the balance of the Tao. Bruce Lee used Wu-Wei in his life. By 1971 he had become frustrated with Hollywood not offering him leading roles. He decided to go to Hong Kong instead to make movies and make Hollywood notice him. After making three blockbuster movies, Hollywood finally offered him a lead role in Enter the Dragon. Lee wrote, “Yet, whether I like it or not, circumstances are thrust upon me and being a fighter at heart I sort of fight it in the beginning but soon realize what I need is not inner resistance…rather, by joining forces to readjust and make the best of it.” (Letters, page 168). “One should be in harmony with, and not rebellion against, the strength of the opponent. Such art will ‘preserve ourselves’ by following the natural bends of things…This theory is illustrated in Taoism, [in the story] about the perfect butcher whose carving knife remains perpetually sharp because it always goes between the bones and tissues and never meets any resistance” (Letters, page 38).
“If he acts without action, order will prevail.” (Taoism, Chapter 3).
Natural Law
The Tao is how the universe works. It is the natural law which manifests itself in nature. It is timeless and can be found in the smallest things of the world. Lee advised a friend, “don’t be in a hurry to ‘fix’ things; rather enrich your understanding in the ever-going process of discovery and finding more the cause of your ignorance.” (Jeet Kune Do, page 381). “Empty your cup so that it may be filled: become devoid to gain totality.” (Tao of Jeet Kune Do, page 14).
“The Way is empty, yet inexhaustible, Like an abyss! It seems to be the origin of all things…Deeply hidden, as if it only might exist. I do not know whose child it is. It seems to precede the ancestor of all.” (Taoism, Chapter 4).
Answers are found in the Calm
One should remain calm and have inner balance to find the answers. Bruce Lee wrote a fighter’s “mind must be calm and not at all disturbed. He must feel as if nothing critical is happening…His behavior should not be in any way different from his everyday behavior, no change taking place in his expression, nothing betraying the fact that he is engaged in mortal combat.” (Tao of Jeet Kune Do, page 12-13). “A Gung Fu man’s mind is concentrated by not dwelling on any particular points of the opponent…A gung fu man’s mind is present everywhere because it is nowhere attached to any particular object.” (Warrior, page 146).
“A multitude of words is tiresome, Unlike remaining centered.” (Taoism, Chapter 4).
Be Like Water
Taoism teaches that water is yielding, uses minimum force, and moves around obstacles. A person should act in the same way and be willing to yield and solve conflicts in a way that works for both sides. When Ip Man told Lee to reflect on why he always fought so aggressively, Lee rowed out to the harbor and floated in a boat. He hit the water in frustration. At that moment he had an important realization. Why can’t he be more like water? Although water is soft it can take a hit and not get hurt. It is also hard and crashes as a wave. Water adjusts to its environment when it flows.
“Supreme good is like water. Water greatly benefits all things, without conflict. It flows through places that people loathe. Thereby it is close to the Way.” (Taoism, Chapter 8).
Ch’i
Taoism teaches that we all have a life energy or “vital breath” called Ch’i. It can be increased or decreased by the individual person. Bruce Lee wrote, “I feel I have this great creative and spiritual force within me that is greater than faith, greater than ambition, greater than confidence, greater than determination, greater than vision, it is all these combined. My brain becomes magnetized with this dominating force which I hold in my hand.” He continued, “Whether it is the godhead or not, I feel this great force, this untapped power, this dynamic something within me. This feeling defies description and [there is] no experience with which this feeling may be compared. It is something like a strong emotion mixed with faith, but a lot stronger.” (Letters, pages 30-31).
“Can you gather your vital breath
And yet be tender like a newborn baby?” (Taoism, Chapter 10).
Moderation
While the Tao is all powerful it works in a soft way. A person should act in a similar way with moderation, humility, and discreetness to achieve peace of mind. Becoming too wealthy will lead to guarding your fortune and distract from peace of mind. Becoming too famous will also distract from peace of mind. Bruce Lee realized this when he became famous. “To many, the word ‘success’ seems to be a paradise, but now that I’m in the midst of it, it is nothing but circumstances that seem to complicate my innate feeling toward simplicity and privacy…After all, fame and fortune are illusive creations and imposters…lately ‘friend’ has come to be a scarce word, a sickening game of watchfulness toward offered friendships” (Letters, page 168-169).
“Filling all the way to the brim
Is not as good as halting in time.” (Taoism, Chapter 9).
Taoism v. Confucianism v. Buddhism
One can better understand Taoism by comparing it to the two other influential philosophies in China: Confucianism and Buddhism. Confucianism stressed obedience to authority because it sees people needing guidance to avoid immorality. Buddhism taught that life was suffering because people are attached to possessions. Similar to Taoism it promoted meditation to find inner peace. Taoism taught that life is rewarding if one follows the natural state of the Tao. One should understand that there is no sweet without sour. Authorities should be hesitant to act and only do the minimum amount so as to not upset the natural balance.
These differences can be summed up by the traditional story of the Three Vinegar Tasters. Confucius, Buddha and Lao Tzu put their finger in a vat of vinegar to taste it. Confucius reacts with a sour face, Buddha reacts with a bitter face, but Lao Tzu reacts with a happy face (Wikipedia, Vinegar Tasters).
Part 2:Flexibility
Flexibility means adaptation
Bruce Lee taught that the way to live your life is to adapt to circumstances. This could just as easily be applied to fighting an opponent or to making decisions about your life.
“The inability to adapt brings destruction. That of not being tense but ready, not thinking but not dreaming, not being rigidly set but flexible. Aware and alert, ready for whatever may come.” (Striking, pages 105-106).
Lee was influenced by the Tao Te Ching which says something very similar.
“The wise man has no set mind – he adopts the people’s mind as his own. The Wise man applies his powers and abilities under heaven – harmonious he makes the world by merging his mind with it.” (Tao Te Ching, Chapter 49).
Flexible like water
Lee tried to be flexible in how he reached his goals. Lee’s teacher Ip Man once told him to stay home from training and reflect on why he always fought so aggressively. Lee rowed out to the harbor and floated in a boat. He hit the water in frustration. At that moment he had an important realization. Why can’t he be more like water? Although water is soft it can take a hit and not be hurt. It is also can be hard and crash as a wave. Water adjusts to its environment when it flows.
This moment shaped his thinking for the rest of his life.
“Be like water; water has form and yet it has no form…It is the softest element on earth, yet it penetrates the hardest rock. It has no shape on its own, yet it can take any shape in which it is placed. In a cup, it becomes the cup…Water may seem to move in contradiction, even uphill, but it chooses any way open to it so that it may reach the sea. It may flow swiftly or it may flow slowly, but its purpose is inexorable, its destiny sure.” (Striking, Page 108)
Taoism teaches that water is yielding, uses minimum force, and moves around obstacles. A person should act in the same way and be willing to yield to solve conflicts in a way that works for both sides. Lee’s thoughts were again influenced by the Tao Te Ching, which states:
“Under heaven, nothing is softer and weaker than water. Yet for attacking the hard and strong, nothing is capable of excelling it – there is nothing that can take its place.” (Tao Te Ching, Chapter 78).
Inflexibility equals Death
Lee also compares flexibility to life and rigidness to death. Lee often told this parable about the mighty oak tree.
“The oak tree is mighty, yet it will be destroyed by a mighty wind because it resists the elements; the bamboo bends with the wind, and by bending survives.” (Striking, page 107)
Once again Lee was influenced by Taoism which states,
“The ten thousand things – the grass, the trees – in life are supple and delicate, In death are dried and decayed. So the hard and unyielding are disciples of death; the pliant and tender are disciples of life.” (Tao Te Ching, Chapter 76).
Bruce Lee adopted flexibility as the cornerstone of his life. He used it to guide his fighting philosophy and business decisions. When he didn’t become a movie star in Hollywood he went to Hong Kong to make movies there. People should be pliant and yielding to reach their goals. Lee once said, “To change with change is the changeless state.” (Striking, page 106).
Resources:
Striking Thoughts: Bruce Lee’s Wisdom for daily living, John Little, Editor, Tuttle Publishing, 2000. Quotes from Bruce Lee on many subjects.
The Eternal Tao Te Ching: The Philosophical Masterwork of Taoism and Its Relevance Today, Benjamin Hoff, Author, Abrams Books, 2021. An English interpretation of the Tao Te Ching using the pre-writing Chinese brush characters.
Tao Te Ching: The Taoism of Lao Tzu Explained, Stefan Stenudd, author. CreateSpace Independent Publishing, 2nd edition 2015. An easy to read translation and commentary on the Tao Te Ching.
What’s This Tao all About?, a light hearted Taoism podcast hosted by Dr. Carl Totton and Tod Perry.
Letters of the Dragon: The Original 1958-1973 Correspondence, John Little, Editor, Tuttle Publishing, 1998, 2016. Volume 5 of the Bruce Lee Library, commissioned by the Bruce Lee Estate. Letters to friends, family, and business associates. Put together by John Little, Bruce Lee historian.
Jeet Kune Do: A Comprehensive Guide to Bruce Lee’s Martial Way, John Little, Editor, Tuttle Publishing, 1997, 2020. Volume 3 of the Bruce Lee Library. Excellent and detailed description of Bruce Lee’s martial art before he passed. Put together by John Little, Bruce Lee historian.
Image of three Vinegar Tasters, Kanō school artist, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
Wikipedia, Vinegar Tasters, retrieved 6/2/24.
Tao of Jeet Kune Do, Bruce Lee, author, Ohara Publications Inc., 1973. Philosophy and technology around Bruce Lee’s Jeet Kune Do martial arts.
The Warrior Within: The Philosophies of Bruce Lee, John Little, Author, 1996, 2016. Applying the philosophies of Bruce Lee in your own life. Written by John Little, Bruce Lee historian.
AI Narration provided by elevenlabs.io. Bruce Lee quotes read by AI.
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